Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
The 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest is back and already, they’ve received stunning entries from around the world. The gorgeous images depict the beauty of the Namibia sand dunes, the awe-inspiring power of the Calbuco Volcano, and the tranquility of morning prayers in Delhi, India.
The Photo Contest is currently accepting submissions in three
categories: People, Places, and Nature. There will be a first prize
awarded to each category, which includes $2,500 and publishing in National Geographic
magazine and online. In addition, there will be an overall grand prize
winner who receives $10,000 and an amazing trip to the National
Geographic headquarters, plus the chance to participate in the annual
National Geographic Photography Seminar in January 2016.
You have until November 16 to enter the National Geographic Photo Contest. See the complete rules here, and in the meantime, check out some of the spectacular entries below.Above: Calbuco, The Awakening.
Calbuco Volcano is located in the lakes region south of Santiago,
Chile's capital city and is one of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in
the country. After more than 40 years of inactivity, the day April 23
the volcano erupts, spewing more than 200 million tons of ash and
causing the evacuation of more than 2,000 people. In the picture is seen
one of the most violent moments of the eruption, which occurred in the
early hours of April 24.
Location: Frutillar, Los Lagos, ChilePhoto and caption by Francisco Negroni / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestThe End of the World
A small group of emperor penguins gathered near the sea ice edge. Ross Sea, Antarctica.
Location: Ross Sea, AntarcticaPhoto and caption by Brian Stetson / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestDunes' picture
This aerial shot was taken from a small plane over Namib desert, Namibia
Location: Namib Desert, NamibiaPhoto and caption by Stas Bartnikas / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestFlamingo
Flamingos are going to flyPhoto and caption by Yu Huiping / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestTerrace paddies in North Vietnam
Terrace rice paddies in Tu Le Valley, Yen Bai province, north Vietnam at
the beginning of new season. The Hmong people are crossing the fields
on their way home at the end of the working day.
Location: T ̇ L, Yen Bai, VietnamPhoto and caption by Qu nh Anh Nguyen / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestAtocha
A little girl plays in the monument to the victims of the attack of 11M in Atocha train station in Madrid
Location: Atocha, Madrid, SpainPhoto and caption by Javier Arcenillas / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestEnchantment of light and shadows
After the sunset we saw that fog was forming and hoped that it would not
fade away till morning so we set our alarm clock 3 hours before
sunrise. Then we drove for two hours to the location and along the road
we could see through the trees that the bog was fully covered in fog. We
quickly set up our octocopter drone and flew over the trees, the
opening view was breathtakingly beautiful - sunrays, fog, shadows,
pools.
Location: Järvakandi, Raplamaa, EstoniaPhoto and caption by Kaiti Lillipuu / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestSunset Mountain Work
Nepal is a special place to me for a number of reasons and I was
fortunate enough to go back to see the Himalayas on a trek that offers
amazing views of Mount Dhaulagiri and Mount Annapurna. The mountain
landscape continued to blow my mind!

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestMorning Prayers, Delhi India
I was in Delhi for work and went out exploring in the early morning to
the Jama Masjid mosque. One guy was sweeping as another came along
behind him laying out the prayer rugs. Soon after, this one man came in
and started to pray, lined up in the one ray of sunlight.
Location: Delhi, NCT, IndiaPhoto and caption by Dale Johnson / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestHigh Hoops
Andrea Grove, a fire performer based in Omaha, Nebraska, practices her
hula-hoop routine before her performance at the Lantern Festival on
Saturday, August 29, 2015. She travels to events around the Midwest with
a group called IncenDance.
Location: Pacific Junction, Iowa, USAPhoto and caption by Calla Kessler / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestAhmed Kelly
Born in 1991 with significant disabilities in all four limbs, Ahmed
Kelly was left at a Baghdad orphanage where he spent the majority of the
first seven years of his life. He was adopted by an Australian woman,
Moira Kelly, and now lives and in Melbourne.Photo and caption by Alex Coppel / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest

Amazing Early Entries from the 2015 National Geographic Photo ContestDaasanach Fisherman
A young Daasanach fisherman guts and cleans a fish on the Eastern shore
of Lake Turkana near the border of Ethiopia and Kenya. The Daasanach are
Kenya's second smallest tribe with between 60,000-80,000 members.
Location: Lake Turkana, KenyaPhoto and caption by Christena Dowsett / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest